Will we ever see Wollongong(WOL) with RPT services again ?

[gwilli1]

I was driving down to Kiama yesterday & passed Illawarra Regional airport @ Albion Park, and it got me thinking , is it likely we will see RPT services from Wollongong (WOL) again ?

Qantaslink serviced WOL from 2005-2008 with a Dash 200/300 , with on average 2 flights / day to MEL, weekdays only . I used the service a couple of times as an alternative to hiking my way into SYD , at the time I was living in the southern part of the Shire so it was only a 40-45 min drive down the F6 to WOL , and was able to park right outside the terminal . Most times it took me longer than that to drive into SYD. Qlink cited low patronage on the route as they reason they withdrew , which i could question as all flights that i travelled were around 3/4 full.

Surely there has to be a market for services out of WOL to places like MEL , BNE or OOL being the 3rd largest city in NSW & 9th in Australia ? Is this an opportunity for the likes of REX or Brindabella/Aeropelican or even Qlink to revisit ?

Just curious on peoples thoughts ?

 

[markis10]

The airport is too limited in capability to be effective, being restricted by weather and light requirements.

 

[BOZZ]

A while ago there were rumours that Tiger might start using Alb Park. It's mainly been used now for charter flights for miners and recreational aviation.

 

[markis10]

A while ago there were rumours that Tiger might start using Alb Park. It's mainly been used now for charter flights for miners and recreational aviation.

No chance that will happen until the runway is widened and the pavement reinforced to handle 737 class aircraft.

 

[Wannabee]

They should just make Nowra a joint user airfield like Newcastle, Darwin etc. I think it is far enough south of Sydney to make it worthwhile, and it would save me driving to Sydney

 

[markis10]

They should just make Nowra a joint user airfield like Newcastle, Darwin etc. I think it is far enough south of Sydney to make it worthwhile, and it would save me driving to Sydney

I think the Military have had their fair share of frustration with sharing their assets with civil users.

 

[Tuddy]

Did someone say that DJ might be starting flights from BNE? >shifty eyes<

 

[moa999]

The proposed Milton site is closer to Wollongong than Sydney

 

[cmon0005]

I remember reading an article a few years ago, stating that Wollongong Council were not happy about QLink pulling out in 2008 as the council had spent almost a million $ upgrading the airport and runways .etc for Qlink..
I'd like to see it started again too, I have family that I visit in the illawarra area as well every few months but have to fly to SYD and then take hours to drive down!

 

[gwilli1]

Yes ...Shellharbour City Council, along with state and federal governments spent around $1.5 million on runway maintenance and infrastructure to get QLink to come to the Illawarra

No chance that will happen until the runway is widened and the pavement reinforced to handle 737 class aircraft.

Would it be able to handle an ATR or E190 ? Was also thinking maybe an opportunity for VA with there regional expansion ? ...long shot , but just a thought.

 

[markis10]

Yes ...Shellharbour City Council, along with state and federal governments spent around $1.5 million on runway maintenance and infrastructure to get QLink to come to the Illawarra



Would it be able to handle an ATR or E190 ? Was also thinking maybe an opportunity for VA with there regional expansion ? ...long shot , but just a thought.

ATR yes, no different to the Dash, but no RPT jets.